There are few feuds more entertaining than those betweenauthors and authors, authors and critics. For one thing,generally the quality of writing is high, so the insults areparticularly vicious. Take this letter by Caleb Carr to oneof his critics from Salon.com. Man. That's some real heat.Not too different, I guess, from rap wars, like that betweenJay Z and Nas. Some other entertaining feuds:Tom Wolfe versus John Updike/Norman Mailer/John IrvingSalman Rushdie versus John Le CarrePaul Theroux vs V.S. NaipaulWriters are generally arrogant, highly insecure.The thing with Google and the web these days--some topicstrikes your mind, you can always find some article aboutit on the web. It's damn hard being original these days.These feuds and rivalries--I enjoy following them. I'd liketo think I don't enjoy actually participating in them, beingthe generally peaceful guy I am. But, over the years, I'vestarted to realize that you're probably not living a life worthliving unless you're offending someone somewhere. As longas you're aggravating the right people, you're probablydoing a good thing. I sense some more conflict in myfuture this year. My sleeves are rolled up.